Tag: Meydan Racecourse

Laurel River Set For Desert Debut

Juddmonte's Laurel River (Into Mischief), last seen running out a 3 3/4-length winner of the GII Pat O'Brien S. in August 2022 for Bob Baffert, has been entered for the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint (1200m) and the G3 Firebreak S. (1600m) on 'Fashion Friday' at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 26.

“Everything seems to be fine, we've gotten nothing but good reports from over there,” said Garrett O'Rourke, general manager of Juddmonte USA, who confirmed that the 6-year-old stallion will take part in the shorter of the two races Friday evening.

An impressive maiden winner at second asking in April 2021, Laurel River was second to The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the GIII Laz Barrera S. the following month, but went missing off an 11 1/2-length romp in his first start going a mile at Del Mar that September. A facile allowance winner first off an 11-month absence in July 2022, he defeated American Theorem (American Pharoah) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in the Pat O'Brien to earn a berth in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was scratched on the eve of the race, for which he would have been one of the top choices.

Laurel River was subsequently transferred to the successful yard of trainer Bhupat Seemar and cleared quarantine last October. He has been in steady work since, but the Juddmonte team are taking a pragmatic approach to what might lie ahead.

“I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. He's been off a long time,” O'Rourke said. “I'd like him to show that he still has the same sparkle, but obviously we expect some rust for as long as he's been off.”

O'Rourke indicated that it will be one step at a time with Laurel River and that near-term options include the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint–a race won last year by Juddmonte's champion Elite Power (Curlin)–and the G3 Mahab al Shimaal (1200m) or G3 Burj Nahaar (1600m) on Super Saturday in Dubai Mar. 2 en route to a possible appearance on Dubai World Cup night four weeks later.

“I'd say he'll dictate where we go,” O'Rourke said. “We have to answer one question first and that's whether he shows his old spark and ability and I think after that, we'll play it by ear. You don't want to pigeonhole yourself into any plan when something different might work out to be the best.

“We've got to get past this performance and move on after that,” O'Rourke continued. “We're just happy that the horse is healthy and happy and working well and wherever it leads us after this weekend, we'll see where we go with him.”

Laurel River will kick off his Dubai campaign on a mark of 116, among the highest-rated dirt horses in the jurisdiction. Isolate (Mark Valeski), winner of last year's G2 Godolphin Mile and on track for the G1 Saudi Cup next month, is rated on 117, while the top dirt sprinter Tuz (Oxbow) is rated 115. The latter, conditioned by Seemar, is also among the entries for the Al Shindagha Sprint.

 

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Frankel Colt Has Measure Of His Rivals In Al Rashidiya

The bred-in-the-purple Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) gave the boys in blue their eighth AED850,000 G2 Al Rashidiya winner when drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths in the 1800-metre grass contest on Friday.  One of two group races on the nine-race Meydan card, the Al Rashidiya featured 10 rivals for the lightly raced 3-year-old, who was receiving a break in the weights.

Part of the early pace discussion, the near-black colt was keen and tugging as he tracked Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) down the backstretch. Buick finally had him relaxed next to Goemon (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and that duo moved up to challenge Wirko on the far turn. Those two went on with it with 550 metres to travel, with Measured Time edging ahead before storming home a 3 1/4-length victor. Erzindjan (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) closed up the inside to run second, 3/4 of a length ahead of Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

“He's a horse full of promise and it's great to have a winner here on the first night,” said Buick. “Today was a new test for him; first time away from England; first time at Meydan. I still think he's a horse full of potential.”

Flawless in his first three starts for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin at Kempton in February and August, and at Newmarket on Aug. 25, Measured Time lost his unbeaten tag with a second-place finish in the Listed Floodlit S. back on the Kempton all-weather on Nov. 6.

 

Pedigree Notes

Measured Time became the 135th stakes winner and 92nd group winner for his Juddmonte sire with his score on Friday. Other Frankels to excel in the desert include G1 Jebel Hatta winner Dream Castle (GB), who also won the Al Rashidiya; and With The Moonlight (Ire).

The much-missed Street Cry (Ire)'s daughters have foaled 150 stakes winners to date, with this colt his 83rd Pattern race winner. His Minidress (GB), second in the Listed Height Of Fashion S., is the dam of UAE top-notcher Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, and G1 Preis von Europa; and the stakes-placed Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Her latest is a weanling colt by Dubawi (Ire).

A grandson of G3 Musidora S. and G3 St. Simon S. victress and G1 Oaks placegetter Short Skirt (GB) (Diktat {GB}), Measured Time is also kin to Group 1 winners Asakusa Den'En (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), as well as their dam, the multiple graded winner Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), who was second in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Irish St Leger. Young sire Cappella Sansevero (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), a winner of the G3 Round Tower S. and third in the G1 Phoenix S., is also part of this clan.

 

Friday, Meydan, Middle East
AL RASHIDIYA-G2, AED850,000, Meydan, 12-22, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:46.97, gd.
1–MEASURED TIME (GB), 123, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB);
T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. AED510,000. Lifetime
Record: 5-4-1-0, AED916,430. *1/2 to Rebel's Romance (Ire)
(Dubawi {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9 1/2-11f, GSW-Eng & UAE,
GISW-US, MG1SW-UAE, $3,060,232; and Petticoat (GB) (Cape
Cross {Ire}), S)-Ire. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Erzindjan (Ire), 126, g, 5, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Eshera (Ire), by
Oratorio (Ire). (€160,000 HRA '21 GOFNOV). O-Mohammed
Ahmad Ali Al Subousi; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE);
T-Ahmad bin Harmash. AED170,000.
3–Ottoman Fleet (GB), 128, g, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Innevera
(Fr), by Motivator (GB). (€290,000 Wlg '19 ARQDEC;
425,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-SCEA Marmion
Vauville & Alain Jathiere (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. AED85,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, 2.
Also Ran: Alfareeq (Ire), Real World (Ire), Goemon (GB), Laneqash (GB), Highland Avenue (Ire), Maydanny (Ire), Marshall Plan (GB), Wirko (Ger). Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

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Easy As Holiday Pie For Isolate In Al Maktoum Mile

Isolate (Mark Valeski) gave trainer Doug Watson a truly Festive Friday, leading home stablemate and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 winner Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the AED1-million G2 Al Maktoum Mile at Meydan Racecourse.

Already a winner over track and trip in the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night at the end of March, the bay, making his first start back, settled in a good rhythm in second under Tyler Gaffalione for a few jumps. He took over a handful of strides later while shadowed by Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and G3 UAE Oaks heroine Mimi Kakushi (City Of Light), with Golden Goal to his outside in third. At the half-way point, he appeared to be just putting in a paid workout, with most of his rivals being asked to keep pace.

Barely extended, he surged away from his pursuers with a mere tap from Gaffalione, and won with every appearance of more to come. Golden Goal stayed on for second 3 1/2 lengths back, with Celtic Prince (GB) (Shamardal) getting up for third, 2 1/4 lengths to the good of Desert Wisdom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who rallied past Mimi Kakushi for fourth.

“It's a pleasure to be here and thanks to connections for bringing me over,” said multiple Grade I-winning jockey Gaffalione. “He took control early and he seems a lot stronger this year. I have a ton of confidence in this horse and the way he ran today I don't think stepping up in distance would be a problem.”

“I take everything with a little bit of pressure, so I'm glad it's over,” added Watson. “He showed today that he's pretty classy and he should improve for the run. I'll leave it up to everyone else to decide if we go to Saudi [in February].”

A winner of the Tale of the Cat S. by six lengths at Saratoga last August, Isolate ran second by a nose in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S. in September prior to packing his bags for the desert. He filled the runner-up spot in both the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in February, and the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal in March, prior to his Dubai World Cup night heroics in the G2 Godolphin Mile.

 

Pedigree Notes

One of four stakes winners and two Pattern race winners for his Arkansas-based sire, Isolate is one of six winners from seven to race out of Tranquil Song (Unbridled's Song), who won as a 3-year-old. Since foaling her star progeny, her 3-year-old filly My Aunt Snookie (Cloud Computing) has won, while her Enticed juvenile colt For Your Pleasure has been placed. Her latest is a weanling colt by Tacitus, and she was bred to Cyberknife this spring.

His second dam, Travelator (A. P Jet), was a six-time stakes winner on the East Coast, before foaling two stakes winners in Hollywood Jet (Uncaptured) and Stone Silent (Adios Charlie). Another half-sister, the Forestry mare Fantasy Forest, is the dam of GIII Challenger S. winner Last Judgment (Congrats).

 

Friday, Meydan, Middle East
AL MAKTOUM MILE-G2, AED1,000,000, Meydan, 12-22, NH3yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1600m, 1:37.21, ft.
1–ISOLATE, 128, h, 5, by Mark Valeski
1st Dam: Tranquil Song, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Travelator, by A. P Jet
3rd Dam: Rajadiddle, by Raja's Revenge
($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-RRR Racing; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds (FL); T-Doug Watson; J-Tyler Gaffalione.
AED600,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP-US, 16-8-4-2,
AED1,587,015. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Golden Goal (Ire), 126, g, 9, Dark Angel (Ire)–Golden Rosie
(Ire), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). (£240,000 Ylg '15 DNPAUG).
O-Dale Brennan; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Doug Watson.
AED200,000.
3–Celtic Prince (GB), 126, g, 8, Shamardal–Opera Comique (Fr),
by Singspiel (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Bouresly Racing Syndicate; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Rashed
Bouresly. AED100,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2 1/4, 2 3/4.
Also Ran: Desert Wisdom (GB), Mimi Kakushi, Road Bloc, Mr Raj, Quality Humor, Royal Mews (Fr). Scratched: Secret Ambition (GB). Click for the ERA chart & video.

 

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Star Guitar Filly Plays A Merry Tune At Meydan

3rd-Meydan, AED210,000, Cond., 12-22, 1400m, 1:24.64, ft.
MANAMA GOLD (f, 2, Star Guitar–Charged Cotton, by Dehere), who attracted plenty of hype prior to this first start, ran to her billing and emerged a 2 1/2 length winner at Meydan. Kept off the fence as Frost At Dawn (Frosted) made the running, the Louisiana-bred was keen to go on rounding the bend and Adrie de Vries had his hands full keeping her content. She tackled the leader at the head of the straight, and ground determinedly past her 250 metres from home, before going on to win a shade cozily. It was the second win on the card for de Vries. “This is a bit what I expected,” said the winning jockey. “She trialled really well; trained on from then, got more professional and she's a very clever filly. She was having a nice look at the winning post. I always like it when a horse is having a look around, it often means there's a bit left in the tank.” Originally sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, the chestnut caught the eye of Oliver St Lawrence after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5, and was knocked down for $200,000 out of the OBS April Sale. Charged Cotton, who won the All Brandy S. at Laurel, has already foaled the stakes-placed Sethamee Street (Street Sense), and multiple stakes winner Ova Charged (Star Guitar), who was second in the GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont Park. Her latest is a weanling filly by Not This Time. Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; and $200,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, AED126,000. Click for the ERA chart & video.
O/T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. B-Brittlyn, Inc. (LA). *1ST-TIME STARTER.

 

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